In May, Peter and Megan Blackshear announced plans to close Bookbound Bookstore in the Courtyard Shops. But to their delight, a new owner is now in the process of taking over.
“When the word got out, we were very surprised to hear from a number of people who wanted to buy the business,” Peter says. “We talked about it and decided we didn’t want to sell the business but would sell the assets.”
The Blackshears’ last day is July 3. Though the sale had not yet been finalized as the Observer went to press, Shaun Manning emails that he’s aiming to reopen the space in August as Booksweet.
Manning has been a content creator for the U-M School of Education, writing stories for Michigan Education Magazine as well as the school’s website.
Before that, he spent ten years with the University of Michigan Press in sales and outreach. In his spare time, he creates comics and writes fiction.
The Blackshears canceled their plans to reopen the shop for indoor shopping before the closing. They stocked their window with titles available inside and asked customers to call with their shopping lists and get recommendations based on the remaining inventory.
Customers can place final orders by phone, and curbside pickup will be available from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays until the final day of business. The shop’s website remains in operation, but orders are sent directly from its distributor, not from the bookstore’s stock.
“Many thanks to all of you for checking in with us recently to share your thoughts and memories of Bookbound!” the Blackshears wrote on their blog. “This has been an emotional few weeks, and our hearts are full knowing that our little store has had such an impact on your lives.”
